Dental



(No Model.)

G. I'. C. MBHLIG.

DENTAL APPLIANGB.

No. 590,460. Patented Sept. 21, 1897.

@ffaf am UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES F. C. MEHLIG, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

DENTAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,460, datedSeptember-21, 1897.

l Application filed June l1, 1897. Serial No. 640,285. (No model.)

Be it known that l, CHARLES F. C. MEHLG, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful lmprovement in Dental Appliances, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to dental appliances for facilitatingoperations upon the teeth of the lower jaw; and the object of theinvention is to provide a device adapted to keep the cheek and tonguefrom contact with and immediate proximity to the teeth being operatedupon, and which device can be readily and quickly applied and which willleave the operator free to effectually pursue his work, and the patientcan close the mouth to relieve the strain and rest without risk ofwetting the teeth.

In carrying out my invention I provide a double bow-frame with oppositeoutwardcurved plates to straddle and extend along each side of the teethof the lower jaw at either side o f the mouth, together with avertically-adjustable standard and a plate bearing outside and beneaththe chin.

This device is adjustable and interchangeably applicable for the teethat either side of the mouth and is adapted for use' with wads of dentalpaper or similar material for absorbing and arresting the iiow ofsaliva.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View representing my improved deviceand in dotted lines an outline of the lower jaw and the teeth. Fig. 2 isa side elevation and dotted outline of a section of the jaw. Fig. 3 is across-section and in dotted lines an outline of the jaw in section, andFig. 4 is a plan of the left-hand-side bow-frame and plates.

The double bow-frame and opposite outwardly-curved plates are maderights and lefts for the respective sides of the lower jaw, arepresenting the right side and a' the left side. These doublebow-frames have outwardly-curved portions that extend between the gumsand cheek on one side and the gums and tongue on the opposite side. Theframes curve upwardly at the back to extend over the gums and upwardlyand with two parts slightly tapering in relation to one another at thefront.

l b represent the outwardly-curved plates,

Vthe plates being secured at their lower curved edges to the lowercurvedportions of the bowframes, and their upper free edges are curvedoutwardly, the plate l) coming next to the cheek, so as to press thecheek outward and away from contact with orv proximity to the teeth, andthe plate Z/ coming next to the tongue and having a tendency to keep thesame down and also away from contact with or proximity to the teeth, andthis plate b is of such shape and action in use that the tongue cannotride over the plate.

The parts a and that is, the right and left frames and plates-areexactly alike in construction, except that they are curved in theopposite direction to fit opposite sides of the mouth.

The standard comprises the rod c, the upper part of which is bent atnearly right angles to the vertical portion and on which bent portionthe sleeve c is axed. This rod cis provided with ratchet-teeth 2 andwith a pin 3. The rod is received in a tube d, having a long slot inwhich the screw or pin 3 moves. This screw prevents the rod beingwithdrawn from the tube or turning therein.

d' represents a spring-pawl pivoted to a strap-piece passing around thetube d, the point of the pawl engaging the teeth 2 of the rod c, and afoot-piece cl2 is secured in the lower end ot the tube d. To thisfoot-piece a plate e is pivoted at 4, the same being adapted to swing inits relation to the rod and tube. The sleeve c receives the frontportion of the double bow-frame, the parts of which are slightlytapering to one another. If the righthand bow-frame is to be employed,it is inserted in the sleeve c and the rod cis moved outward in itsrelation to the tube d and the plate e is swung in the oppositedirection to that occupied by the bow-frame. The bowframe and its platesare then inserted in the mouth of the patient and are brought in theirproper relation to the teeth of the lower jaw. Pressure is then appliedto the parts of the standard to push the rod into the sleeve to bringthe plate e up snugly to the under side of the chin and adjust theapparatus in the mouth of the patient in the proper position and to suchan extent that it practically becomes ixed, in which position thespring-pawl engaging the ratchet-teeth holds the dental ICO appliance inplace. and the outwardly-curved plates are of such shape in relation tothe curve of the teeth of the jaw that sufficient room is left'at eachside of the teeth and between them and the plates for the insertion ofrolls or wads of dental paper or other suitable absorbent materialsapplied and pressed into position for the purpose of absorbing andarresting the flow of saliva. The. curved plate b, which comes neXt tothe cheek, occupies such a position that it is possible to employ a fiatwad of dental paper or other suitable absorbent materials back of theplate and against the inner side of the cheek, as seen at f, to coverthe saliva-duct in the cheek and prevent or re tard the flow of saliva.

The left-hand double bow-frame replaces the right hand one in the sleevec with facility, and when said left-handframe is employed the pivotedplate e is turned to a position at an angle thereto, so that in eitherpositionin use it is preferable and advantageous that the plate e occupya position centrally between the chin.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with an adjustable standardand a plate to take a bearing beneath the chin, of a double bow-frameand curved plates connected therewith,said frame being adapted to engagethe adjustable standard and with its plates to occupy a position in themouth at each side of the teeth to hold away from the teeth the cheekand tongue, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an adjustable standard and a plate pivotallyconnected therewith and adapted to come beneath the chin, of a doublebow-frame having downwardly-curved portions, an upwardly-curved portionat the back and an upwardly-curved The double bow-frame secured to thedouble bow-frame and conforming thereto at their lower edges and curvedoutwardly at their upper free edges, the one to come against and pressoutward the cheek and the other to extend over the edge of the tongue tokeep the cheek and the tongue from contact with or proximity to theteeth operated upon, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the double bowframe and the oppositeoutwardly-curved plates connected therewith, of a sleeve to receive andengage the end of the frame, a rod to which the sleeve is connected, atube receiving the rod and in which the same is vertically movable, aplate pivoted to the base of the rod and adapted to swing, and a meansfor connecting the rod and the sleeve in the desired position ofadjustment, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the double bowfraine and the oppositeoutwardly-curved plates connected therewith, of a sleeve to receive andengage the end of the frame, a rod to which the sleeve is connected, atube reeeiving the rod and inwhich the same is vertically movable, aplate pivoted to the base of the rod and adapted to swing, and a'springe actuated pawl pivotedy tothe tube and adapt` ed to engage teethmade in the verticallymovable rod, and a means for connecting the rodand the sleeve in the desired position of adjustment, substantially asset forth.

Signed by me this 7th day of lune, 1897.

CHAS. F. C. MEHLIG.l

l/Titnesses:

Guo. T. PINCKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL.

